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The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura today condemned the murder of Sri Lankan television journalist Relangi Selvarajah and her husband in the capital Colombo on August 12.

“I condemn the murder of Relangi Selvarajah and her husband,” the Director-General declared. “Informed public debate is essential to democracy and rule of law. Sri Lanka’s internecine conflict will only be laid to rest through open debate reflecting all shades of public opinion. Using murder to silence opinions will not secure peace in Sri Lanka, but only foment more of the violence to which it has been prey for all too long,” Mr Matsuura concluded.

Relangi Selvarajah, a former journalist for Sri Lanka Broadcasting Cooperation (SLBC) was working as a presenter for the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation (SLRC). The gunmen who killed Ms Selvarajah and her husband remained unidentified.